CALM provides a framework for states and other jurisdictions to document how they collect and use water quality data and information for environmental decision making. The primary purposes of these data analyses are to determine the extent that all waters are attaining water quality standards, to identify waters that are impaired and need to be added to the 303(d) list, and to identify waters that can be removed from the list because they are attaining standards.

The CALM development process has been and will continue to be an iterative process. Its development has involved many different workgroups consisting of federal and state staff. A series of public meetings to receive the input of a variety of stakeholders was an important part of the process. This first edition is an evolving document and will be updated as additional chapters are completed and existing chapters revised. As you’re using this web-based document, please provide comments, case studies and examples where methods are working or need to be modified to work better.

• Cover, disclaimer, table of contents (PDF, 74KB)
• Chapter 1. Introduction (PDF, 99KB)
• Chapter 2. Elements of a Consolidated Assessment and Listing Methodology [Reserved]
• Chapter 3. Overview of Process To Assess WQS Attainment and Identify Impaired Waters (PDF, 729KB)
• Chapter 4. Using Chemical Data as Indicators of Water Quality (PDF, 654KB)
• Chapter 5. Using Biological Data as Indicators of Water Quality (PDF, 237KB)
• Chapter 6. Using Toxicity Data as Indicators of Water Quality (PDF, 155KB)
• Chapter 7. Using Bacteria Data as Indicators of Water Quality (PDF, 176KB)
• Chapter 8. Using Habitat Data as Indicators of Water Quality (PDF, 183KB)
• Chapter 9. Using Other Types of Data to Support WQS Attainment Decisions [Reserved]
• Chapter 10. Selecting Metrics or Indicators of WQS Attainment (PDF, 136KB)
• Chapter 11. Monitoring Network Design and Implementation Scenarios (PDF, 136KB)
• Chapter 12. Integrated Data Management and Documentation [Reserved]
• Appendices
  
  1. Information To Be Included In 2002 Integrated Water Quality Monitoring and Assessment Report
     
  2. Data Elements for 2002 Integrated Water Quality Monitoring and Assessment
     Report and Documentation for Defining and Linking Assessment Units to the National Hydrography Dataset
  3. Statistical Considerations for Data Quality Objectives and Data Quality Assessments in Water Quality Attainment Studies -- Draft (PDF, 1.1MB)
  4. Interval Estimators and Hypothesis Tests for Data Quality Assessments in Water Quality Attainment Studies -- Draft (PDF, 571KB)

Additional Reference Materials and Links

Aquatic Resource Monitoring -- provides information on the design and analysis of probability surveys for surface waters. Includes information on three levels: Introductory and Overview, Programmatic Details, and Technical how to's, also several examples and links to related web sites at www.epa.gov/nheerl/arm.

2002 Integrated Water Quality Monitoring and Assessment Report Guidance

STORET– is a data management system and repository for chemical, biological and physical data used by states, territories, tribes, volunteer groups and federal agencies. Copies of the software are available free. Visit www.epa.gov/storet/ for more information.

EPA Policy and Guidance on the Data Quality Objectives Process, Quality Assurance Project Plans, Standard Operating Procedures, Sampling Design, Data Quality Assessment and other QA/QC procedures for environmental data collection is available at: www.epa.gov/quality/.

The Office of Science and Technology web site provides access to a wealth of information on water quality standards and water quality criteria at www.epa.gov/waterscience/.

Online bioassessment publications to download or order can be viewed at:
www.epa.gov/bioindicators/html/publications.html.

The National Wetland Monitoring and Assessment Work Group is to assist states and tribes in building capacity to implement and sustain wetland monitoring and assessment programs. For more information visit: www.epa.gov/owow/wetlands/monitor/.

National Environmental Methods Index - the tool is a free, web-based online clearinghouse of environmental monitoring methods. The NEMI database contains chemical, micro-biological and radiochemical method summaries of lab and field protocols for regulatory and non-regulatory water quality analyses. It is searchable over the World Wide Web, providing up-to-date methods information through a standard Internet connection and browser. By visiting http://www.nemi.gov users can directly access current methods information. In the future, NEMI will be expanded to meet the needs of the monitoring community. For example, biological methods will be added to NEMI, along with additional field and laboratory methods of importance to the monitoring community.

CALM was developed after extensive discussion with a variety of stakeholders. For summaries of these meetings, visit:

• June 27-28, 2000 Stakeholder Meeting (PDF , 18 pages, 109 KB, about PDF)

• October 17-19, 2000 State/EPA Meeting (PDF , 12 pages, 51 KB, about PDF)

  Breakout Sessions from meeting (PDF , 7 pages, 33 KB, about PDF)

• December 4-5, 2000 Stakeholder Meeting (PDF , 16 pages, 92 KB, about PDF)

For comments or questions on this material, please contact:

Susan Holdsworth
USEPA Office of Wetlands, Oceans, and Watersheds
Assessment and Watershed Protection Division
1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW
Washington, DC 20460 (4503T)
holdsworth.susan@epa.gov